Self-locking pole clip



NOV. 20, 1962 j BRASTY SELF-LOCKING POLE CLIP Filed April 25, 1961INVENTOR.

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3,064,)33 SELF-LOCKHNQ POLE {IMP Joseph Brasty, Cleveland, Ohio,assignor to D. dc W. Manufacturing (10., line, lChicago, ill. Filed Apr.25, 196i, Ser. No. P911468 Claims. (Ill. 248-230) This invention relatesto a self-locking clip which may be readily applied and removed from apole, and which may be used for the support of various objectstherefrom.

An important feature of the clip of the invention resides in the factthat the gripping effect of the clip increases as the load to besupported by the clip is increased. Such a characteristic makes the clipespecially useful since it can be used to support objects differinggreatly in weight. Furthermore, the structure of the clip does notrequire that the pole to which the clip is'applied have any notching,machining, or attachments, the only requisite being that the pole besubstantially round, strong and rigid enough to support whatever load isapplied to the clip. Another attractive feature of the clip is that itmay be easily applied at any vertical level of the pole, in any radialposition, and will remain in applied position until removed. Anadditional feature is that the clip will not mar the pole, thus allowingthe position of the clip to be changed whenever desired without leavingtell-tale, or unsightly marks on the pole. Finally, the clip of theinvention is a single piece structure which can be readily produced inwire forming machinery, and at low cost.

The main object of this invention is to provide a selflocking clip whichmay be readily applied and removed from a pole, and which may be usedfor the support of various objects therefrom.

A more specific object is to provide a self-locking pole clip which hasa gripping ef ect that increases as the load on the clip is increased.

Still another object is to provide a self-locking pole clip thestructure of which does not require that the pole to which the clip isapplied have any notching, machining, or attachments, the only requisitebeing that the pole be substantially round, strong and rigid enough tosupport whatever load is applied to the clip.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selflocking pole clipthat may be easily applied at any vertical level of the pole, in anyradial position, and will remain in applied position until removed.

Still another object is to provide a self-locking pole clip that willnot mar the pole on which it has been applied.

A further object is to provide a self-locking pole clip which is asingle piece structure that can be readily produced in wire formingmachinery and at low cost.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become moreapparent fro-m the following description and accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing a pole clip made in accordance withthe principles of the invention, as applied to a vertical pole andsupporting a potted plant;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view generally as seen from line 2--2 in FIG. 1;and

lFIG. 3 is a plan view of the clip of FIG. 1 in position upon the pole.

Referring now to the drawing, a pole 6 is shown, which pole ispreferably made of metal tubing, and is normally supported in verticalposition. The pole 6 may be of the type having expansible ends (notshown) whereby the pole may be removably positioned between the floorand ceiling in any desired location in a room. A clip 8 cmbodying theprinciples of the invention, and preferably made of steel wire, isillustrated in position upon the pole. The clip 8 includes a spiral bodyportion 10 which extends about the pole substantially one completerevolution, and an integral load supporting, or hook portion 12. Thelatice ter is formed at the end of an arm portion 14 extendingsubstantially horizontal from the upper end of the body portion 10. Thespiral angle of the body portion 10 is preferably within a range of 30to 40 with the horizontal. While a right hand spiral is shown (viewedfrom the top of the pole) a left hand spiral would be equallysatisfactory. A slight outward turn 16 is arranged at the lower end ofthe body portion 10. As best seen in FIG. 2, the arm portion 14 and thelower endof the clip are arranged to lie in approximately the samevertical plane.

With reference to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a vertical or axialprojection of the body portion Ill, defines a generally ellipticalcurve, with a minimum inside diameter :1 extending normal to thevertical plane in which the arm portion 14 lays, while a maximum insidediameter 11 extends parallel with said plane. The minimum diameter a isslightly less in length than the outside diameter of the pole 6, so thata snug fit is provided between the clip and the pole.

The pole diameter may be any size desired with the clip being made for agiven pole size.

It will be seen in MG. 1, that a load upon the clip, such as produced bya potted plant is suspended from the hook portion i2, will produce aturning moment causing clockwise rotation of the clip. Such clockwiserotation will result in internal diameters of progressively reducedlength of the body portion to be brought into contact with the surfaceof the pole 6. As a result the clip will become clamped withprogressively greater force upon the pole as the turning moment loadsare increased. Such clamping will result in self-locking of the clipupon the pole to Withstand and support any load suspended from the clip.

It will be appreciated that, while one form of hook portion 12 has beenshown, any other type or form may be used which may suspend an object atany desired disstance from the pole. Further, it is to be noted that theclip may be initially applied to the pole by a simple twisting movement,which involves lacing the body portion 1% around the pole with the armportion in a generally vertical position following which the clip isrotated clockwise iuto final clamped position. Attention is directed tothe fact that the clip 8 may be placed upon the pole 6 at any verticalposition without the need for bringing the clip over the upper or lowerextremities of the pole. Also, the clip will remain in any affixedposition without application of a load thereto.

While the clip has been illustrated and described as applied to avertically arranged pole, it should be obvious that the pole need notnecessarily be so oriented. For example, if desired, it would bepossible to place a clip 9 upon a horizontally arranged pole with a loadforce applied to the book 1?. extending in a direction generallyparallel to the axis of the pole.

it will be realized that a clip made in accordance with the abovedescription will satisfy the objectives of the invention set forthhereinbefore.

The foregoing description has been given in detail without thought oflimitation since the inventive principles involved are capable ofassuming other forms without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clip for use upon a pole which clip has a spiral body portion and aload supporting portion formed integral with one end of the bodyportion, said spiral portion being arranged so that an axial projectionof the internal diameters thereof will define a generally ellipticalcurve.

2. A clip for use upon a pole which clip has a spiral I body portion anda load supporting portion formed integral with one end of the bodyportion, said load supporting portion including a hook means, saidspiral portion being arranged so that an axial projection of theinternal diameters thereof will define a generally elliptical curve.

3. A clip for use upon a pole which clip has a spiral body portion and aload supporting portion formed integral with one end of the bodyportion, said spiral portion being arranged to surround the polesubstantially one revolution and having a spiral angle of between 30 and40 relative to the horizontal, said spiral portion being furtherarranged so that a axial projection of the internal diameters thereofwill define a generally elliptical curve.

4. A clip for use upon a pole which clip has a spiral body portion and aload supporting portion formed integral with one end of the bodyportion, said spiral portion being arranged to surround the polesubstantially one revolution and having a spiral angle of between 30 and40 relative to the horizontal, said spiral portion being furtherarranged so that an axial projection of the internal diameters thereofwill define a generally elliptical curve, said load supporting portionhaving an arm portion, which lies in the same vertical plane as thelower end of the body portion.

5. A clip for use upon a pole which clip has a spiral body portion and aload supporting portion formed integral with one end of thebody'portion, said spiral portion being arranged to surround the polesubstantially one revolution and having a spiral angle of between 30 and40 relative to the horizontal, said spiral portion being furtherarranged so that an axial projection of the internal diameters thereofwill define a generally elliptical curve, said load supporting portionhaving an arm portion and a hook both of which lie in the same verticalplane as the lower end of the body portion, the minor axis or" saidcurve being normal to said palne while the major axis is parallel withsaid plane.

:Eaves July 20, 1897 Oster June 9, 1953 F v. Jun, i.

